The onslaught of fatigue hit me fast now that I was sitting in a warm car again, and I slumped against Vane and closed my eyes for a brief minute. I didn’t know if I fell asleep or if I just zoned out, because the next moment Vane was kissing me on the forehead as he said my name quietly. He’d already paid the driver, and he helped me out of the back of the taxi.
“I know you’re tired, but we won’t be long,” he whispered, dragging me against his body as we stepped up onto the sidewalk.
I glanced around at where we were, and immediately noticed the café he’d taken us to wasn’t open—but clearly that’s not where we were heading, because he directed me toward a hotel next to it. It looked to be an impressive older-style building with brick walls, pillars, and curved balconies. The windows were wide and arched, and through one of them, a few stories up, I plainly saw a young lady in lacy red lingerie, a cigarette in her hand as she stared out into the world. The light was bright behind her, illuminating her, but she didn’t seem to care she was visible for anyone on the street to see.
“Uh… is there a reason we’re here?” I asked Vane carefully, unable to break my stare on the woman, until Vane had pulled me toward the glass doors where two men stood on either side. I didn’t know if they were bellhops or valets, but they looked more like guards to me with their black suits, wide shoulders, and hard gazes. I’d heard the rumors about the Courtesan Hotel, but nothing warranted any truth to it. If it had, it would have been shut down by now. It was clear why Vane told the taxi driver to take him to the café, though. As Deputy Mayor, he couldn’t be linked with the Courtesan Hotel, a rumored brothel.
We walked into the foyer, with its dazzling gold-swirled marble floor and high ceilings that glittered with crystal-cut chandeliers. Everything about the open space felt like something out of a fifties movie, and I couldn’t help but stop and stare at the glamorous people who moved throughout the room. Dressed in suits, gowns, and clothes I could only classify as evening wear, it was without a doubt the fanciest place I’d ever stepped into. To our right, through a pointed arch, there was a room that had couches scattered around and they were all full of laughing people. Beyond that was what seemed to be a bar area with tables here and there, though the lighting in that room was murkier. Far away a small stage was lit up for some reason, with no one on it.
A blond man came bustling over to us, his chin raised and a tight smile on his face as he stopped in front of Vane. “Deputy Mayor Elwood, welcome back,” he said quietly, as though sharing a secret. Maybe he didn’t want other guests to hear Vane’s name. “We’re having an event tonight. Please excuse the volume of guests.”
“Good evening, Darcy.” Vane gripped me tighter against his side, and the man—Darcy, Vane had called him—studied me carefully.
“Are you here for pleasure?” he asked after a short moment, vibrant blue eyes darting back to Vane.
“No, I’m looking for Ross. I know he usually likes to visit to blow off steam near the end of the week, and I need to speak to him urgently.”
Darcy opened his mouth, but Vane held up his palm.
“I’m aware of your rules, Darcy, but this is urgent, and Ross wouldn’t like a phone call for this. Could you please inform him I’m here and wish to speak with him immediately?” Vane turned on the charm, but there was more to his voice. While pleasant, his tone also held an order, too.
Darcy pursed his lips and clasped his hands in front of him, his gaze flipping to me before he finally nodded, although quite reluctantly. “I will contact him for you, Mr. Elwood. Please wait here.”
He turned and strode back toward the reception desk and picked up the phone next to a gold table lamp that gleamed. While he was busy, I glanced at Vane and gripped his hand in my own tighter.
“Do you come here often?” I teased.
He sent me a smirk and shrugged unapologetically. “I needed privacy and the Courtesan could give me that.”
“So itisa brothel?” Studying the foyer more carefully, I took note of some of the people standing around again. A couple of faces looked familiar, and I swore one of the men loitering on a plush red couch with a young woman in a short black dress was a senator from Pennsylvania.
Vane clasped my chin and tugged my face to make me look at him again. “I can neither confirm nor deny that accusation.” He grinned and my heart clattered against my rib cage so hard, I was surprised no one heard it. “But if itwas, it would be an exclusive brothel for powerful people that no one who has career aspirations would want to mess with.”
“Duly noted,” I said with a snort.
He curled his arms around my waist and hauled me closer, pressing our foreheads together as he stared intently at me. “How are you doing?”
The question was asked gently, and I couldn’t help but melt into him.Fuck. I shouldn’t have cared about this man asking how I was, but I did, and that made my insides tingle. “Mom is going to keep me updated.”
“That’s not what I asked.” He touched his nose with mine and popped a quick kiss on my mouth. “I asked howyouwere doing, and I want a real answer. It’s my job to take care of you, Jaxson, and I can’t do that unless I know how you’re feeling.”
I laughed quietly and shivered at his voice. I thought about the time we’d spent in the hospital, how he’d stayed stuck to my side, no matter how long Mom stared him down. He’d been there when he shouldn’t have been, and that made my heart ache. I should have been running for the hills because he’d grown attached, but then, so had I, in ways I hadn’t before. We were both in trouble, especially with this reporter hanging around.
Licking my dry lips, I smiled. “I’m scared for him. I know we haven’t talked about family because this was only supposed to be physical, but Dad’s a good man. He’s always been a good father, and he worked hard every day to put food on the table. I hated the struggle my family went through when I was a kid, but they tried, and I wanted to be better so I can help them when they get too old to help themselves.” I rested my palm on his chest, the softness of his shirt not exactly surprising. “And then I realized I nearly lost him today, and I wouldn’t have had him there for me to take care of. It’s terrifying and makes me sick to the stomach.”
“And?” He rested his hand over mine and squeezed.
“And… I’m trying to figure out how to help them with the medical bills.” I raised my gaze to him and trembled at the heated stare he was giving me. “Do you think I’d have a shot at getting a loan, now that I’m working?”
“You know, they’re your parents, Jax. It’s their job to take care of you, not the other way around,” he said in that deep voice that had my body warming.
“I know, but I love them. They gave me everything they could afford, and it’s my turn to give back.”
He frowned and scrunched up his nose in a way I hadn’t seen him do before, which was freaking adorable, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. Finally he sighed and cupped my cheek. “Okay, if that’s how you feel, I’ll help you. I can help you pay—”
“No,” I said abruptly and maybe a little too loudly because the couple over by the seats turned to look at us. Clearing my throat, I continued in a quieter voice. “I’m not asking for help, Daddy. You wanted to know how I felt and I was telling you. I can take care of myself.”
He caressed his thumb over my cheekbone and I closed my eyes. “I know you can, but that doesn’t mean you have to. I enjoy taking care of you.”
